- The central aim of this course is to develop basic student understanding regarding competition law and its enforcement with a focus on EU/UK competition law, but including a comparative overview of other legal systems (mainly US and ASEAN).

- The broader aim of the course is to contribute to the development of working student knowledge with regard to the operation of business and economic law in general.

- A more general aim of the course is also to develop student knowledge and legal skills which they can utilise in the future irrespective of whether they choose a career in practice, in academia or in other fields.

(LO1) Demonstrate knowledge with regard to the key objectives, functions and operation of competition rules including the basic economic incentives for the restriction of competition

(LO2) Demonstrate understanding of common methods through which economic operators restrict competition (such as price-fixing and market allocation)

(LO3) Critically analyse the way in which competition law detects and deters such practices

(LO4) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the use of economic concepts and models in the field of competition law

(LO5) Be able to analyse various advantages and risks of relying on economic concepts and models in the application of competition rules including ricks of applying competition rules to public services

(S1) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S3) Information skills - Critical reading

(S4) Research skills - All information skills

(S5) Global citizenship - Relevant economic/political understanding

(S6) Commercial awareness - Relevant understanding of organisations

Indicative syllabus:

Schools of competition, aims of competition law and different competition models
The structure and basic concepts of EU/UK competition law, overview of other regimes
Anticompetitive agreements (Article 101 TFEU and approach in other legal systems)
Abusive unilateral conduct (Article 102 TFEU and approach in other legal systems)
Mergers and acquisitions, oligopolistic markets and tacit collusion
Competition law and IP
Competition law and the state (state aid including relation to public procurement, SGEIs)
Public and private enforcement of competition rules
International aspects of competition law

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: The course will be taught through 10 lectures (2h each) and accompanying interactive seminars (4 cycles of 2h seminars).
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description: The course will be taught through 10 lectures (2h each) and accompanying interactive seminars (4 cycles of 2h seminars).
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-Directed Learning Description: Student reading and seminar questions preparation, formative and summative assessment